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Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery

Menasha Lighthouse

1852 – August 31, $5,000 for lighthouse.

1854 – Under Contract.

1855 – Five sets of illuminating apparatus and three steamer lens lanterns have been received, which have been applied as follows: At Milwaukee, a 4th order revolving lens light; at Grand river, the same; at Round island, a 5th order fixed light, varied by flashes; at the mouth of Portage river, a 5th order revolving light; at La Pointe harbor, a 4th order fixed light; at the outlet of Winnebago lake, a steamer lens lantern, and a similar one substituted for the old reflectors in the lighthouse at the mouth of Clinton river.

1856 – In the eleventh light-house district, embracing the lakes west of lake Erie, in addition to the ordinary routine duties of the service, the light-houses authorized at Round Island, Point Iroquois, Grand island, mouth of Portage river, Rock Harbor, Isle Royal, Menasha, Port Clinton, and Taylorsport, have been completed.

1859 – Congress at its last session having empowered the department, upon the recommendation of the Light-house Board, to discontinue from time to time such lights as may become useless by reason of mutations of commerce and changes of channels of harbors, and other causes, the following lights have been dispensed with, viz: Menasha, Twin Rivers, Wisconsin.

1890 – The Board has the honor to recommend that the proper measures be token to obtain an appropriation of $500 for the establishment of two post range lights at Menasha, Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, a tributary to Lake Michigan.
It is proposed that one of the lights shall be placed on the site of the old Menasha light, which was discontinued under the operations of the act of March 3, 1889, which site is still Government property. The other, it is proposed to place on the northeast end of Doty Island, adjacent to the channel, which was dredged out in 1887.
It is now difficult to make the Menasha River at night, on account of the cut through the rock, and the earth cut, which is found to be quite intricate. The establishment of these lights, it is claimed, are imperatively required by the shipping interests of Lake Winnebago and its tributaries.
It is therefore suggested that $500 be appropriated for the establishment of range lights at the mouth of Menasha River, Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, a tributary of Lake Michigan.

1891 – Menasha, Green Bay, Wisconsin.—The following recommendation, which was made in the Board’s last annual report, is renewed:
It is now difficult to make the Menasha River at night, on account of the cut through the rock, and the earth cut, which is found to be quite intricate. To meet this difficulty it is proposed to establish here two range lights, one to be placed on the site of the old Menasha Light, which was discontinued under the operations of the act of March 3, 1859, which site is still Government property; the other to be placed on the northeast end of Doty Island, adjacent to the channel which was dredged out in 1887.
It is estimated that these range lights can be established for a sum not to exceed $500, and it is recommended that an appropriation of this amount be made therefor.
1892 – Menasha, Green Bay, Wisconsin.—The following recommendation, which was made in the Board’s last annual report, is renewed:
It is now difficult to make the Menasha River at night, on account of the cut through the rock, and the earth cut, which is found to be quite intricate. To meet this difficulty it is proposed to establish here two range lights, one to be placed on the site of the old Menasha Light, which was discontinued under the operations of the act of March 3, 1859, which site is still Government property; the other to be placed on the northeast end of Doty Island, adjacent to the channel which was dredged out in 1887.
It is estimated that these range lights can be established for a sum not to exceed $500, and it is recommended that an appropriation of this amount be made therefor.

1893 – Menasha, Green Bay, Wisconsin.—The following recommendation, which was made in the Board’s last three annual reports, is renewed:
It is now difficult to make the Mcnasha River at night, on account of the cut through the rock and the earth cut, which is found to be quite intricate. To meet this difficulty it is proposed to establish here two range lights, one to be placed on the site of the old Menasha light, which was discontinued under the operations of the act of March 3, 1859, which site is still Government property; the other to be placed on the northeast end of Doty Island, adjacent to the channel, which was dredged out in 1887.
It is estimated that these range lights can be established for a sum not to exceed $500, and it is recommended that an appropriation of this amount be made therefor.

1894 – Menasha, Green Bay, Wisconsin.—The following recommendation, which was made in the Board's last four annual reports, is renewed:
It is now difficult to make the Menasha River at night on account of the cut through the rock and the earth cut, which is found to be quite intricate. To meet this difficulty it is proposed to establish here two range lights, one to be placed on the site of the old Menasha light, which was discontinued under the operations of the act of March 3, 1859, which site is still Government property; the other to be placed on the northeast end of Doty Island, adjacent to the channel, which was dredged out in 1887.
It is estimated that these range lights can be established for a sum not to exceed $500, and it is recommended that an appropriation of this amount be made therefor.

1896 – Menasha, Green Bay, Wisconsin,—The following recommendation, which was made in the Board's last six annual reports, is renewed:
It is now difficult to make the Menasha River at night on account of the cut through the rock and the earth cut, which is found to be quite intricate. To meet this difficulty it is proposed to establish here two range lights, one to be placed on the site of the old Menasha light, which was discontinued under the operations of the act of March 3, 1859, which site is still Government property; the other to be placed on the northeast end of Doty Island, adjacent to the channel which was dredged out in 1887.
It is estimated that these range lights can be established for a sum not to exceed $500, and it is recommended that an appropriation of this amount be made therefor.

1898 – Menasha River lower and upper beacons, Wisconsin.— The material for the two post lights and oil houses was procured for erection in December, and the light in the lower lake was set up ready for use, but on account of the spring ice shove, the erection of the one in Lake Winnebago was postponed until next spring. The work of establishing the post lights was completed, and the lights were displayed on May 5,1898. Two eight day white Funck lanterns were sent to the keeper to replace the one-day lanterns.

1899 – Menasha River lower beacon, Little Butte des Morts Lake, Wis cousin.—A platform was built and the old locker from the upper beacon was bolted in place. A notice to mariners announcing that the color of the light would be changed from white to red about July 17,1899, was issued.

1899 – Menasha River, upper beacon, Bake Winnebago, Wisconsin.—The Board decided that the color of the light should be changed from white to red, that a lens lantern should be substituted for the one now in use, and that the light be raised so that it will illuminate the entire horizon. The material was received and the platform was enlarged, and a locker was built and painted. A notice to mariners announced that the color of the light would be changed from white to red about July 17, 1899.